THE DOOR (LIVING IN ABUNDANCE Jn. 10:10b Mar. 2012)

Friend, I got a revelation in the scripture! I am excited. Please come along with me. In Ps 91:14 God said: “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name”. The scripture also tells us in Phil. 2:9-10 that God has given his son Jesus Christ a name that is above every other name. At the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow of things in heaven and things on Earth and underneath the Earth. It is in recognition of this truth that Jesus Christ of Nazareth is not just called the King but his name is the King of Kings; he is not just named the Lord but he is the Lord of Lords (Acts:10:36, Rev. 19:16). We know that he is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; the Alpha and Omega (Rev.1:8, 5:5). Isa 9:6 tells us that his other names are: Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Therefore the name of Jesus Christ is awesomely significant. It is indeed a name that is above every other name. For instance when you call him the Lion of the Tribe of Judah you recognize the fact that he is a warrior who has never lost a battle.

You may naturally say to me; “well pastor we know all that! Those are foundational. Then what now?” Check this out: When we read John 10:7-9 we discover a peculiar, not- too- popular name of Jesus Christ. In John 10:7 Jesus said “I AM THE DOOR of the sheep”. In the same chapter in verse 9 he repeats the same statement and this time he says “I AM THE DOOR; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture”. That’s interesting. Jesus is telling us here that not only is he the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the the ancient of days, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he is also ‘THE DOOR”. Therefore if we believe (as is truly the case) that his name is above every other name and accordingly he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it follows rationally and logically that Jesus Christ is not only the Door but he is the Door of doors. However he is not the Door of the ‘goats’, ‘dogs’ ,’cattle’ and ‘wolves’; he is the Door of the’ sheep’. The sheep, in this context, are the born again Christians; those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior.

If anyone will accept to enter in through the door the first benefit is that the fellow will be saved (both spiritually; everlasting life and physically; from oppression of the enemy). Then the second benefit of entering in through the door is that the sheep will go in and out. This means freedom/deliverance; unhindered, in and out, movement; no gate(s) will be allowed to be shut before or after you if Jesus did not say so. That is why in Ps. 24: 5-6 the gates are commanded to lift up their heads and everlasting doors are also commanded to be lifted up so that the King of glory; the Door of doors, the Lord mighty in battle will come in. Consequently when you pass through that Door you cannot remain in any form of prison or bondage. A physical or spiritual prison door is a lesser door; the door of oppression is a lesser door; the door of bareness is a lesser door; the door of joblessness is a lesser door; the door of deprivation is a lesser door; the door of loneliness is a lesser door. Every lesser door/gate must lift up its head(s) in response to the command of the Lord of Hosts; Jesus Christ who is the real and superior door.

For the same reason, if we remember, the prison doors could not hold Paul and Silas captive. As they prayed and sang, the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Holy Ghost) came down. As ‘The Door’ came down the prison doors had no other option than to lift up their heads for Paul and Silas. Also for the same reason when Peter was put in prison the Holy Spirit went to visit him. Peter and the angel of the Lord passed the first and second wards towards the iron gate of the city. As they were approaching the gate, the’ remote control sensors’ of the city gate (like today’s automatic doors would do) sensed the approaching power of a higher Door, and before Peter and the angel of the Lord could even get to the city gate, the gate had opened on its own accord(Acts.12:10).

Isa 45:1-3 tells us that the Lord will hold us in his hands, and cause the loins of Kings to be loose while opening the two leaved gates. Then, because the Lord is the door, obstacles such as gates of brass will be broken to pieces and bars of iron will be cut asunder. Gates of brass, bars of iron are restrictions/limitations that would not allow the ‘sheep’ a free movement in and out. It was for the same reason that when Lazarus who was dead four days was brought back to life, the gates of hell could not stop him for the stones, could not withstand the authority of ‘The Door’ and had to be rolled away(Jn. 11:39-41).

In that same book of John 10:9b Jesus said that anyone who enters in by the door will not only be saved but the fellow will go in and out and find pasture. Pasture in this context is abundant life. Pasture includes every good thing we desire in this life, in accordance with the will of Almighty God. These include; Provision, food, health, promotions; material wealth; awesome jobs, money, cars, joy, children etc. The scripture confirms in Isa. 45:2-3 that after the Lord has broken the gates of brass and cut asunder the bars of iron, he will give us the hidden riches of secret places.

Friend, what is your desire today? What is that challenge that has given you sleepless nights? Are you, for instance, looking for a marriage partner? Do you seek breakthrough/ promotion in your office and business? Is there a health challenge in your family where someone at this material time has been told by professionals that he/she has little or no time left? Have they told you that your business proposal/venture is already dead? Have they told you that the vision will not come to pass? Have they told you that your case is finished and nothing can be done about it? Have they told you that your womb is sealed forever and can no longer conceive any child? Whatever the problem may be; whatever your desire may be; just call on Jesus Christ! Call him: The Door! He will open every door that is not supposed to be shut. He will shut every door that is not supposed to be open.

I will like us to pray. However before we do that, if you have not given your life to Jesus Christ I advise you to do so now because tomorrow may be too late.

Let’s pray. Please pray these prayers with me:

1. Lord Jesus Christ: You are the Door! Therefore let every other door in my life and in my family obey your command this day in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

2. Lord Jesus Christ; you are the Door! Therefore let every door that you have not shut in my life and in my family be open now in Jesus name; For instance doors of prosperity, health, promotion, freedom, favor etc.

3. Lord Jesus Christ; you are the Door! Therefore let every Door that you have not opened in my life and in my family be permanently shut now in Jesus name; you can mention them; Doors of sicknesses and diseases, unhappiness, frustration etc.

4. Lord Jesus Christ; you are the Door! Therefore, in my life and in my family, let every door that must be open before another will be shut, be open now in Jesus name; For instance a new job that has to come before the old one will go.

5. Lord Jesus Christ; you are the Door! Therefore, in my life and in my family, let every door that has to be closed before another will open, be shut now in the mighty name of Jesus. For instance an old acquaintance / relationship that must be terminated before a new one will come

6. Lord Jesus Christ; you are the Door! Therefore, in my life and in my family, let every door that you have already opened continue to be open permanently in the mighty name of Jesus Christ; For instance doors of salvation, health, abundance, joy, children, favor.